Beware of Cross-Border Real Estate Investment Scams: How to Avoid Financial Loss
Case Overview：
Ms. Chen came across a highly lucrative real estate project on a well-known real estate investment platform in the UK, which promised an annual return of up to 15%, enticing her to invest. Through the platform, she connected with an individual claiming to be a real estate agent. Following their advice, she transferred an investment sum of £25,000 to a designated company account. However, months later, not only did she receive no returns, but the platform also became unresponsive. Customer service responses were slow, and eventually, the platform vanished entirely.
Legal Response:
Consultation and Evidence Collection:
After Ms. Chen raised concerns about the platform's credibility, she contacted Max International Law Firm. The legal team thoroughly documented her investment experience, organizing evidence such as communication records, payment receipts, contract copies, and screenshots of the platform's website. The team concluded that the platform was likely a fraudulent investment scheme.
Background Check and Platform Monitoring:
Max International Law Firm began investigating the platform's background and discovered that its registration location was unclear, and the company’s business license could not be located. Further investigation revealed that the platform's personnel had frequently changed contact details, and there had been multiple complaints regarding similar fraud schemes.
Transnational Legal Cooperation:
Max International Law Firm, in collaboration with financial regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies in the UK, began tracing the flow of funds related to the platform's operations. The firm also assisted Ms. Chen in filing a lawsuit with the High Court of the UK and requested the court to freeze the platform's bank accounts.
Legal Procedures and Litigation Enforcement:
After several months of investigation and legal procedures, Max International Law Firm successfully froze a portion of the platform's assets and returned them to Ms. Chen. In the end, Ms. Chen recovered approximately £18,000 of her investment. Although she was unable to recover the full amount, she expressed her gratitude for the outcome.
Result and Recovery:
Through proactive cooperation and cross-border legal channels, Max International Law Firm successfully helped the client recover part of the funds in this case, while also serving as a warning to more investors to be cautious of similar fraud schemes.
